This summer, Stan Bowman faces a twofold challenge:

It’s a tough spot to be in. Limited assets and tight cap space leave little room for error.

I’m fully confident that Connor McDavid will sign a long-term extension in Edmonton at some point this summer. It’s going to happen. And before that, Evan Bouchard will likely put pen to paper on his own eight-year deal.

Those two contracts, along with Leon Draisaitl’s new eight-year extension kicking in, will likely mean that the Oilers’ three most important players are locked in for the next eight seasons.

That puts the front office in an interesting position. On one hand, it’s Cup or Bust every single year. They need to do everything possible to keep chasing the Stanley Cup while that core is intact.

On the other hand, McDavid has made it clear he wants to know there’s a long-term plan: A commitment to keeping this team competitive throughout the life of his new deal.

Losing Philip Broberg and Dylan Holloway last summer was a massive blow. In the moment, it made some sense to let them walk after the St. Louis offer sheets so that they could maintain salary cap flexibility. But in hindsight, Edmonton gave up two players who could have been key contributors for the next decade. No need to rehash it here, but it happened, and it matters.

So, how can Bowman thread the needle, maintaining a Cup-calibre roster while injecting youth into the lineup?

I fully expect the Oilers to find ways to part ways with both Evander Kane and Viktor Arvidsson. That would free up over $9 million in cap space and leave the team with eight forwards under contract.

Assuming they retain two of Kasperi Kapanen, Corey Perry, or Connor Brown, that brings the number to ten. While I expect at least one external addition up front, the real opportunity lies within.

Matt Savoie and Noah Philp should be playing full seasons in Edmonton next year. Both are coming off excellent offensive years in the AHL, and both contributed on the penalty kill, which is a major bonus.

Philp gives the team a rare right-shot bottom-six centreman. Savoie injects speed and skill into the top nine. Give them regular minutes and let them grow during the season. The hope is that they’re playoff-ready by spring.

If they can kill penalties and chip in secondary offence while making under $2 million combined? That would be a huge win for a cap-strapped contender.

It’s time for a change in how the Oilers approach free agency.

To be fair, I liked the signings of Viktor Arvidsson and Jeff Skinner last July. On paper, both looked like potential 20-30 goal scorers. The cap hits didn’t seem excessive. But neither move panned out, and both spent long stretches in the press box as the Oilers returned to the Stanley Cup Final.

This summer, I’d rather see Edmonton target younger players with upside over older veterans with larger price tags. Of all the 2024 acquisitions, Vasiliy Podkolzin arguably delivered the best value. That’s the model they should follow.

One player I’m really intrigued by: Cody Glass.

The numbers behind him are strong, and at 26, there’s reason to believe his best hockey is still ahead. He’s been with four different organizations in five years and reportedly won’t be qualified by New Jersey, making him a UFA on July 1.

He’s a right-shot centre, had a 14-goal season with Nashville in 2022-23, and would likely jump at the chance to join a Cup contender and finally get some stability.

If the Oilers offered him a two-year deal at a reasonable cap hit, it could be a steal. If it works, you’ve got a useful young player in your middle six for years to come. If not, it’s a minor miss, nothing close to last summer’s mistakes.

The Oilers should take a low-cost, high-upside approach this off-season, as the summer isn’t the only time of year when a team can make improvements. Save what few assets you have for the trade deadline and make your splash when the stakes are higher, just like the Panthers did with Brad Marchand and Seth Jones this season.

Edmonton has made some significant additions ahead of the trade deadline in recent years, and they’ve done a good job of finding players who can help the team long-term. The team added Mattias Ekholm from the Nashville Predators in February of 2023 and he’s been a top-pairing defender since. They added Adam Henrique in 2024 and signed him after the Stanley Cup Final, while Trent Frederic, one of this year’s additions, appears to be closing in on a contract extension.

It might make for a quieter summer. No flashy signings. No major headlines. But it’s the best way to keep this team in the title race, not just for 2026, but for many years to come.

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